Bermudez National Park encompasses most of Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean at 10,164 ft/3,098 m, according to surveys, although the Dominican government has officially deemed it to be 10,128 ft/3,087 m.
The park is a popular place for hiking. You can ascend the peak on foot to the top, a climb of approximately 7,000 ft/2,134 m along rutted trails that pass through several climatic zones. You'll need to hire a guide (compulsory), and a mule is recommended for carrying your gear. Plan on three tiring days on foot round-trip from the village of La Cienaga, near Jarabacoa. You may either hire a guide at the park office in La Cienaga, or you can make arrangements through a tour outfitter.
Accommodations along the way are rustic huts (or tents can be rented in La Cienaga), and the peak, once you reach it, is often enshrouded in clouds. When the sun shines—the clouds usually settle in by midmorning—the views are sublime; many hikers time their summit to arrive at sunrise. The park is northwest of Santo Domingo, near the towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza.
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